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Archive Five
July 4, 2005
- Mt. Shasta -
This
majestic beacon, symbolizing a different kind of independence ...
 I
saw Mt. Shasta for the first time in July of 1972, and it was love
at first sight. Over the past thirty-some years, I've made
regular treks to this scenic wonderland, whether to camp, hike,
commune, meditate or just have fun in the snow. I've always
left refreshed, invigorated and ready to take on the world.
In late 2002 my wife and I decided to get a second place with some
acreage up there. What does this have to do with my film?
...
About a year from now, my
plan is to shoot my little digital film up at Mt. Shasta, and have
fun doing it. I'm also hoping that everyone involved in the
project will join me (us) in the fun as well as the work.
Actually, paradise is not too bad of a place to work ...
And while you're up there
(you are coming, or going, right?), whether to hike, camp, ski,
snowboard, etc., you really have to check out the legends that
have enraptured the local populace for more than a couple hundred
years. Yes, all the way back to the Native American legends,
and up to the Lemurians, UFO's and strange sounds and lights that
have been reported around the mountain for decades. Maybe
something unexpected will happen? ...
Anyway, I've set my story,
WHERE HEAVEN MEETS EARTH,
amidst some of these goings-ons, as well as some new ones. A
family on summer vacation gets stranded near the mountain, and
must deal with not just the mysteries that surround them, but the
mysteries inside each one of them. A family drama wrapped
into a spiritual mystery (no this isn't a religious film), is what I call it. It's a fun,
touching story, hopefully one many can relate to ...
Tidbits: Oh and
while you're at it, check out the
Mt. Shasta International
Film Festival, happening in October. Last year's
inaugural event was great, and this year's should even be better.
In addition, check out this interesting
Wired article
about what's happening in the
DVD world.
441 days and counting ...
J-Alden
Comments -- (got this
email from Kelley, the angry filmmaker, and thought I'd pass it
on)
Update on
Kelley's Fall Tour -- 7/7
I am putting together my Fall Tour
right now, promoting my new movie, Kicking Bird. My plan is to
leave Portland around September 15th and drive across the US,
showing any or all of my movies and teaching workshops all over
the country. I have put a tentative route at the bottom of this
email.
A lot of places that I've played on previous tours have asked me
back. I am also getting calls about new venues, (Lansing
Michigan, LA, Santa Barbara, etc.,). Which is great! I
need more venues to make this whole Tour work. As many of you
know I regularly play, colleges, universities, community colleges,
media art centers, high schools, and small art house theaters. If
you have any ideas, contacts, colleagues, or friends anywhere near
where I may be going please let me know, and let them know. I
can send screeners of my work, workshop outlines, press kits,
whatever anyone might need. I am also looking for
independent video stores, micro cinemas, and local film groups at
all of these stops.
My goal is to hit as many places as possible in a 6 - 8 week
period. I'm also going to be posting my thoughts and my
adventures on the web site as the Tour progresses, so you'll be
able to watch my progress, not only putting this thing together,
but also out on the road
TENTATIVE ROUTE - - Spokane, WA - - Missoula, MT - - Billings, MT
- - Rapid City, SD - - Fort Collins, CO - - Denver, CO - - Omaha,
NB - - Indianapolis, IN - - Michigan (?) - - Cincinnati, OH - -
Columbus, OH - - Cleveland, OH - - Pittsburgh, PA - - Harrisburg,
PA - - Philadelphia, PA (or Northhampton) - - Boston, MA - -
Providence, Hartford, or New Haven, CT - - Baltimore, MD - -
Charlotte, NC - - Columbia, SC - - Atlanta, GA - - Montgomery, AL
- - Birmingham, AL - - Nashville, TN - - Memphis, TN - - Little
Rock, AK - - Fayetteville, AK (October 17th) - - Tulsa, OK - -
Oklahoma City - - Wichita, KS - - Lawrence, KS - - Kansas City,
KS - - St. Louis, MO - - Amarillo, TX - - El Paso, TX - - Tucson,
AZ - - Phoenix, AZ - - San Diego, CA - - Los Angeles, CA - -
Santa Barbara, CA - - San Francisco, CA - - back to Portland.
I just got an email from the Editor at Runner's Gazette. They
really like Kicking Bird and they're going to review it for their
August issue, both in print and on the web. They even asked for
photos. I'm thrilled! This is great. And it's coming at a good
time too, because...
The Fall IRS Tour is really coming together. I want to thank you
all for sending me contacts and suggestions. I am spending so
much time at the Post Office sending stuff out that I'm
practically an employee! I'm getting emails from all over the
country of places that are interested in having me come and
screen and teach. Some of these are places that we didn't even
contact. So thank you all for your support there. And please
don't stop sending me contacts, and venues, the more the merrier.
If you don't remember where the hell it is I'm going, just check
out my journal at
http://www.angryfilmmaker.com
Thanks. I really appreciate your time.
Angrily yours,
Kelley
July 11, 2005
- No Budget -
Embrace your limitations? ...
I spend all day Saturday at the inaugural class of the
No
Budget Film School, hopefully learning how to shoot my project
with as few dollars as possible. Now, I've been considering
my project as low-budget (albeit very low budget), not no budget.
But after listening to Mark Stolaroff (a principal of the school),
I may have to update my definitions. He defined 'no budget'
not necessarily as no budget (but it could be), but as whatever
amount of money you have readily available (meaning of course what
you can beg, borrow and steal from family, friends, and their
friends, and on and on -- maybe if you can carry it out to those
six degrees of separation you could get all the dough you
need?) ...
The point, of course, is to
empower the filmmaker to go out NOW and make his/her film, no
matter what. Don't let money, or the lack thereof, or
anything else, stop you. Time to stop dreaming, quit talking
about it, so get off your fat duff and roll that camera!
Hhhmmm, sounds like yours truly could take that under his wing and
fly with it ...
As far as the class itself, I
did learn a few things, but much of it I knew or had heard before,
since I have been involved on this world awhile. However,
anyone just considering this indie film path could get a lot out
of this class. Plus the fact, this was their first class,
I'm willing to bet it will get better as they dig deeper into
where they are going. Also, their guest speakers all offered
good advice and info. I wish them well, and may take more
their classes in the future ...
On Sunday, after all that was
dumped on us the previous day, I needed some escapist, fun
time, so my family and I went to
Disneyland to partake of the their 50th anniversary (which is
officially July 17th). Of course (as mentioned in
previous March 31 post), I had been
there in their opening year (as a mere youngster), and many times
since. But as the day wore on (and we spent more and more
$), and I thought of the previous day, I begin to calculate in my
head what I could have spent on all these Disney trips. Wow
oh wow, talk about no budget, low budget films, I bet I could have
funded a good-sized film what with all the dough I've spent in
this 'Magic Kingdom' over the years. But no, as corny as it
may be, the cumulation of those experiences and memories with
family and friends are worth much more than any film project.
But, in the future, if I ever get that urge to see the 'magic
mouse', maybe I'll just toss that small fortune into the 'film
kitty' ...
Tidbits: Check
out one current view of
Films to the Net. What do you think?
434 days and counting ...
J-Alden
July 18, 2005
- Mt. Shasta, Part 2 -
On the open road again ...
Cool! I'm headed up to Mt. Shasta today, and will be spending
a whole month there, partially for fun and relaxation, and
partially for work. The work involves finishing my latest
screenplay draft. What's exciting is that I get to write the
script exactly where several of the scenes take place and where
we'll be filming next year. I don't think too many get to do
that ...
Also, I'll be scouting other
locations in the area, as I have a general idea where most of the
other scenes will take place. So, I'll be trying to nail
those down as I'm writing the scenes that go with it. I'll
also be putting on my director's hat, and processing ideas for how
some scenes could be shot. I'm excited ...
Anyway, I have to run and
finish packing the SUV to hit that open road. More later,
from the mountain ...
Tidbits: Just had to
mention the passing of one of the great screenwriters, good guy
Ernest Lehman.
Also, an
article about filmmakers all over trying to get a break.
And the emerging world of
Vlogging, its
Greatest Hits and
More. Intriguing stuff. Maybe a Vlog morph needs
to eventually happen here? ...
427 days and counting ...
J-Alden
July 23, 2005
- Potential Problems -
Some
down to earth reality sets in ...
While scouting some of the locations up here at Mt. Shasta, I
began to realize some of the production problems I may be facing.
One location I was sure about, where a number of scenes take
place, is going to have a serious challenge with sound.
Oddly, being out here in the country, you wouldn't think that
would be one to worry about ...
This is the situation.
The location is on a ridge overlooking a valley. Beyond the
valley, Mt. Shasta looms in the distance. Interstate 5 goes
through the valley, between the ridge (a couple miles away) and
the mountain. The traffic, especially the semis, make quite
a bit of noise, what echoing through the valley and carrying up
over the ridge. Seems the sound can vary, depending on the
wind, temperature, humidity. Sure, there are solutions, but
at times the noise is so loud, it almost seems like we're next to
the freeway. If any sound guys are out there, contact me.
I'd like some opinions ...
A couple other problems.
The weather can be unpredictable here, what with weird weather
patterns periodically occurring around the mountain.
Luckily, it's not too bad in the summer, and usually weather moves
in and out pretty rapidly. Plus, having backup interiors to
shoot should alleviate this, for the most part ...
I understand bright sunlight
can cause some problems when shooting in Hi-Def, and there are
several such scenes where that could be a problem ...
Getting some of the equipment
up into some obscure places on the mountain could present some
real challenges ...
Anyway, just mind-rapping
about some possible problems I see here. I'm sure there will
be many more, and I'm hoping the solutions will follow ...
422 days and counting ...
J-Alden
July 28, 2005
- Mt. Shasta, Part 3 -
Climbing around heaven's gate and finding, Hope? ...
I just got off the mountain, hiking all over the place and coming
up with all sorts of ideas and locations for certain scenes.
Of course, as previously mentioned, some of the logistical
challenges of getting people and equipment up here won't be easy.
But hey, it's an adventure, so we'll just have to roll up our
sleeves and see what gives ...
On the rewrite front, one of
the major problems I've had is with the main character. This
is a family ensemble piece, and even though I always knew who the
main character/POV (point of view) person/protagonist was, she has
never completely come through. Hope, the wife/mother, is the
main character and driving force of the story, but seemed to be
the most elusive. Marcus, the husband/father, Sofie, the
daughter, and Troy, the son, seem to come through with more force.
Meaning, they speak to me more and seem to have more character ...
On the other hand, Hope has
been quietly more subdued, and doesn't seem to want to become more
fleshed out. So, she has been more of my focus in the
rewrite. As I've been on the mountain more, I've been
noticing her open up more, and thus become more real. And
interestingly enough, that elusiveness happens to be part of her
character, which in turn makes her a more alluring, intriguing
character. Finding out who she really is, has been part of
the adventure up here, and in writing her part. I can't wait
to see who she completely becomes ...
417 days and counting ...
J-Alden
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